26-10-2023 (WASHINGTON) In the wake of two recent collisions between Filipino and Chinese vessels in the contested South China Sea, US President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to China, reaffirming America’s commitment to defend the Philippines in the event of an attack.
The South China Sea has long been a source of tension, with the Philippines staunchly contesting China’s territorial claims in these disputed waters. The recent clashes have escalated the situation, prompting President Biden to make his strongest statement yet regarding this ongoing issue.
Speaking at the White House, President Biden stated, “I want to be clear — I want to be very clear: The United States’ defence commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. The United States defence agreement with the Philippines is ironclad.” The Mutual Defense Treaty, established in 1951, binds the US and the Philippines to mutual defense in case of an armed attack. President Biden made it unequivocally clear that any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces would invoke this treaty.
The tension between the US and China over this matter was palpable, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisting that the US had no right to interfere in a conflict between China and the Philippines. She added that any US actions in defense of the Philippines must not infringe upon China’s sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea.
The recent collisions that sparked this intense rhetoric occurred when a China coast guard ship and a Filipino supply boat collided in an area within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Additionally, a separate incident involved a Chinese militia boat “bumping” a Philippine coast guard vessel. The Filipino government argued that these actions were a result of China’s dangerous maneuvers.
In a show of solidarity, the Philippines’ defence minister, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, accused China of intentionally targeting Philippine vessels and distorting the facts to suit its agenda. President Biden echoed this sentiment, describing the Chinese vessels’ actions as “dangerous and unlawful.”
The Philippines is a vital strategic ally of the United States, sharing borders with two potential flashpoints in the Pacific: the South China Sea and Taiwan. Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in June 2022, the Philippines has adopted a more aggressive stance in challenging China’s actions in the South China Sea. This marks a departure from the pro-China approach of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who faced criticism for not doing enough to counter Beijing’s aggression in the region. Duterte notably refrained from invoking Manila’s legal victory against China in an international tribunal, which had discredited Beijing’s extensive claims over almost the entire South China Sea.
